Clipper construction



Sept. 1, 1953 D. M. PHILLIPS CLIPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 8 1951 INVENTOR.

M .7 m m r p o M m r Patented Sept. 1, 1953 CLIPPER CONSTRUCTION Dwight M. Phillips, Placentia, Calif., assignor to Corona Clipper Company, Corona, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 8, 1951, Serial No. 214,455

Thisinvention has to do with a clipper construction and is concerned with a construction that can be incorporated to advantage in clippers of various types or forms and which is particularly practical and advantageous as applied to such devices which are of the scissor type. It is a general object of the invention to provide a clipper or cutter construction that is simple, inexpensive, and effective, and which serves to cushion and finally stop closing action of the mechanism.

Cutters or clippers are provided for various purposes or classes of use and are commonly characterized by two pivotally connected members. The pivoted members are generally provided with a stop means that positively limits the closing action. It is desirable in such devices that the jaws or blades be positively stopped in a predetermined closed position and yet when a positive stop is provided there is a resulting jar or shock that is highly undesirable and tiring to the operator. Soft stops between the pivoted members are generally not satisfactory because they do not positively stop the members in the predetermined closed position.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a clipper construction wherein the main members are pivotally connected and are operable between open and closed positions, and wherein a stop means is incorporated and acts to cushion the action of the mechanism as the parts approach the fully closed or actuated position and then finally positively stop it in the fully actuated position. The cushioning action obtained with the mechanism of the present invention eliminates disagreeable shock or jar and makes it possible to rapidly operate the mechanism without undue fatigue or inconvenience.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the general character referred to wherein the shock absorbing stop means is incorporated with the means provided for spreading the pivoted parts so that the mechanism is in no Way complicated or encumbered by the presence of the stop means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the general character referred to in which the spring of the spreading means serves as a holder for the stop while the lugs of the spreading means that divide the spring serve as the abutments that cooperate with the stop.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism of the general character referred to in which the stop means is characterized by a block, preferably elongate in form, and

4 Claims. (01. 30-261) having sections, one of which is tubular while the other is a core within the tubular section, one of the sections being resilient and the other rigid and somewhat shorter than the resilient section.

In the mechanism provided by or in which the present invention is incorporated there are two members joined by a pivot pin. The jaws or blades of the resulting mechanism may be varied in form, shape and action, depending upon the service to be performed. In a preferred form of the invention each member has a body portion that carries the pivot pin. A jaw or blade projects from the body portion and a shank projects from the body portion and carries a handle. In the case hereinafter illustrated the jaw or blade is elongate and the parts are related so that the blade is substantially parallel with the handle while the shank is arcuate or curved. When the members are connected in operating relation the shank portions are opposite each other and have their concave sides opposed. A spreading means is provided .and normally yieldingly tends to urge the members apart or to an open position. In the preferred form the spreading means involves lugs projecting from the concave sides of the shanks and a helical spring extends between the shanks and has its ends engaged around the lugs. A latch is provided for releasably holding the mechanism closed and in a preferred form involves an ear on one member and a hook on the other and a catch pivoted to the ear and engageable with the hook. The stop means provided by the present invention involves a stop block, preferably elongate in form, and in the preferred arrangement it is carried in the spring of the spreading means between the lugs of that means. In accordance with the invention the stop block is in sections and involves sections that extend lengthwise of the block. One section is preferably tubular while the other is a core within the tubular section. In accordance with the invention one section of the block is formed so that it is rigid, for instance, it may be a solid part of metal or the like, while the other section is formed of resilient material such as rubber or a rubber-like composition. In accordance with the invention the resilient section of the stop block is somewhat longer than the rigid section and as a result when the members of the mechanism are operated or pivoted relative to each other and approach the fully closed position, the resilient member comes into play between the lugs of the spreading means, retarding or checking the closing action, and when the fully closed or actuated position is reached the rigid section is engaged by the lugs and positively stops any further closing movement.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a typical clipper or cutter embodying the present invention, showing the mechanism in a closed position and held in that position by the latch means. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the mechanism open or in a fully spread position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken as illustrated by line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stop block shown in Fig. 3, which block has a resilient tubular section and a rigid core. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the block shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a block embodying another form of the invention in which the rigid section is tubular while the yielding section is in the form of a core within the tubular section.

The stop means provided by the present invention can be applied to or incorporated in clippers, cutters, or shears of various kinds, and for purposes of example I have elected to illustrate it in connection with a rather simple clipper of ordinary form and wherein the general arrangement and relationship of parts is somewhat conventional. It is to be understood that as the clipper or cutter is varied in design or in details of construction the stop means of the present invention may be varied accordingly.

Referring, first, to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the clipper includes, generally, two principal parts or members A and B joined by a pivot pin C. The members A and B are substantially alike and each is shown as including a body portion in, a jaw or blade projecting from-the body 40, a shank l2 projecting from the body l; and a handle [3 on or projecting from the shank. In accordance withconstruction common to this type of mechanism each member involving the parts I0, |2 and I3 is, or may be, formed as an integral unit and it will be apparent that the various parts mentioned may be varied in form, shape and proportion as circumstances require. In the case illustrated the jaw or blade H of each member is elongate in form and has a cutting edge I4 that extends longitudinally of it. The body portion I0 is fiat and when the members are pivotally connected together, as by the pivot pin C, the flat body parts are engaged to bear against each other and thus maintain the blades or jaws II in the proper relationship. In the case illustrated the handles H of members A and B are straight and are substantially aligned with their respective blades I, while the shanks |2 are curved or arcuate so that in the assembled mechanism the concave sides l of the shanks face inwardly or are opposed, providing a space of substantial extent between the members adjacent the jaws or between the jaws and handles. It is to be understood that the handles l3 may be varied in shape and size, as conditions require, and in a typical case such as is illustrated they may be covered with grippers N5 of soft material, making the mechanism convenient to hold in the hand.

The mechanism includes a spreading means D that operates to normally yieldingly' urge the shank portions |'2 apart so that the mechanism normally assumes an open position such as is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In the case illustrated the spreading means D is located at or confined to the shank portions l2 and it involves a helical compression spring 20 and lugs 2| projecting from the concave sides l5 of the shanks so that the ends of the spring 20 are engaged over the lugs to be retained or guided thereby. The lugs 2| are rigid with the shanks I2 and may be integral with the shanks or they may be separate parts fixed on or to the shanks, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lugs 2| are of limited extent, that is, they engage in the end portions only of the spring 20 so that they never engage each other but rather leave a substantial space within the spring and between the lugs when the mechanism is in the fully actuated or closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.

l A latch means E is provided for releasably holding the mechanism in the closed position shown in Fig. 1 so that it is convenient to store or handle when not in use. In the case illustrated the latch means E is located where the shanks I2 join the handles l3, and it involves an ear 30 projecting from one member, a hook 3| projecting from the other member, and a latch or catch 32 pivoted to the ear 30 and engageable with the hook 3|. It is preferred, in practice, that the ear 36 and hook 3| be so proportioned or related as to be spaced apart when the mechanism is fully closed, so that there is no danger of injuring or pinching the users fingers as the device is operated.

The stop means F provided by the present invention is preferably located at or incorporated in the spreading means D and in its preferred form it involves a stop block preferably elongate in form and such as to be carried in the spring 20 between the lugs 2|. In its preferred form the stop block is sectional and includes two sections, one a tubular section 40 and the other a core 44 within the tubular section. Further, in accordance with the present invention one section of the stop block is rigid. For example, it may be solid and formed of metal, whereas the other section is formed of. a resilient material such as rubber and has a cushioning effect. In following the invention the rigid section of the block is somewhat shorter than the resilient section and in a preferred form of the invention the resilient section projects somewhat beyond the rigid section at each end of the block. In the particular case under consideration, that is, in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I illustrate a form of the invention wherein the tubular section 40 is formed of resilient material such as rubber or the like while the inner or core section 4| is rigid and is formed of metal. In accordance with the present invention the block is so proportioned and related to the mechanism hereinabove described that as the mechanism is operated by moving the handles in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the members A and B move freely relative to each other until they approach the fully actuated or closed position, at which time the ends of the resilientv section engage the lugs 2| putting the resilient section under compression between the lugs, with consequent checking of the closing movement of the mechanism. When the mechanism reaches the fully closed or actuated position the lugs engage the ends of the rigid section or core 4|, with the result that the mechanism is positively stopped in a predetermined position. It will be apparent that by suitably proportioning the parts and by employing a cushion section of rubber, or like material, of suitable resilience, the desired checking action is obtained so that as the device snaps closed as the result of the blades cutting through work, the tendency to jar or hammer is eliminated. With the stop provided by the present invention there is a final metal to metal and positive stop, whereas the action of the mechanism is cushioned or dampened so that there is a minimum of shock or jar such as tires an operators hand and arm.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 the sections are reversed, that is, the tubular section 40 is rigid or formed of metal, Whereas the core section ll is of cushioning material such as rubber, or the like. In this case, as in the case shown in Fig. 5, the rubber section is made somewhat longer than the metal section so that it is the first to contact the lugs 2| and, consequently, dampens the closing action as the mechanism is operated from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1.

In practice the elements of the block may be formed separately and slid together forming a unit held by the frictional engagement of the elements one with the other, or they may be made an integral unit as by molding, fusing, vulcanizing or otherwise securing or bonding the rubber element to the metal element.

It is important to observe that the stop block as provided by the present invention is so combined with the spreading means D as to be maintained in proper operating position by the spring 20 and it is such as to require no extra parts in the mechanism, but merely that the lugs 2| be proportioned so that the desired space occurs between them when the mechanism is fully closed. When I employ the terms rubber or rubber-like material I mean to include any material or any composition or combination of materials that will form a satisfactory cushioning element having the desired resilience.

From the foregoing description it is to be ob served that the stop means that I have provided is extremely simple and inexpensive of manufacture, that it adds practically nothing to the weight of the mechanism, and that it is so incorporated in the mechanism as to in no way complicate it or encumber it either from the standpoint of manufacture or handling.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described including, two rigid members pivotally connected together and having cooperating cutting parts and spaced handles, means normally yieldingly holding the members with the cutting parts spread apart and including opposed lugs on the members and a helical spring between the members with its ends carried by the lugs, and a stop in the spring and held thereby between the lugs and including a resilient section adapted to retard relative movement between the members as the device is operated and the cutting parts approach a fully engaged position and a rigid section positively stopping the cutting parts in a predetermined fully engaged position.

2. A device of the character described including, two rigid members pivotally connected together and having cooperating cutting parts and spaced handles, means normally yieldingly holding the members with the cutting parts spread apart and including opposed lugs on the members and a helical spring between the members with its ends carried by the lugs, and a stop in the spring and carried thereby between. the lugs and including a resilient section adapted to retard relative movement between the members as the device is operated and the cutting parts approach a fully engaged position and a rigid section positively stopping the cutting parts in a predetermined fully engaged position, one of the sections being tubular and the other being a core in the tubular section.

3. A device of the character described including, two rigid members pivotally connected together and having cooperating cutting parts and spaced handles, means normally yieldingly holding the members with the cutting parts spread apart and including opposed lugs on the members and a helical spring between the members with its ends carried by the lugs, and a stop in the spring and carried thereby between the lugs and including a resilient tubular section adapted to retard relative movement between the members as the cutting parts approach a fully engaged position and a rigid core section within the tubular section and positively stopping the cutting parts in a predetermined fully engaged position.

4. A device of the character described including, two rigid members pivotally connected to gether and having cooperating cutting parts and spaced handles, means normally yieldingly holdin the members with the cutting parts spread apart and including opposed lugs on the members and a helical spring between the members with its ends carried by the lugs, and a stop in the spring and carried thereby between the lugs and including a resilient core section adapted to retard relative movement between the members as the cutting parts approach a fully engaged position and a rigid tubular section holdin the core section and positively stopping the: cutting parts in a predetermined fully engaged position.

DWIGHT M. PHILLIPS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 323,691 Kellogg Aug. 4, 1885 555,778 Landrum Mar. 3, 1896 1,741,109 Heimerdinger Dec. 24, 1929 2,105,332 Rauh Jan. 11, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 168,665 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1921 

